Refrigeration



July 1, 1941. BRACE 2,247,904

REFRIGERATION Fi-led Feb. 5, 1938 4 SheebsSheet l INVENTOR Gebzye A. Brace ATTORNEY July 1, 1941. GA. BRACE REFRIGERATION Filed Feb. 3, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Geolye A. Brace ATTORNEY 'July 1, 1941.

G. A. BRACE I REFRIGERATION Filed Feb. 3, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY G. A. BRACE REFRIGERATION July 1, 1941.

Filed Feb. 5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Ge 01:98 A. Brace ATTORN EY Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED STATE s1 PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATION George A. Brace, Winnetka, Ill.-, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio This invention relates to mechanical refrigeration apparatus of the compressor type, and more particularly to such apparatus as used in refrigerator boxes of the household type.

It has heretofore been common practice to so mount the motor compressor unit on the refrigerator cabinet so as to prevent, as far as possible, the transmission of the vibration and noise inherent in the operation of the apparatus to the cabinet and to the room. Many methods of re- .siliently mounting the motor compressor unit and of sound proofing the same have been proposed.

Prior constructions are subject to the great disagitation advantage that separate supports are required for the stationary evaporator inside the food compartment, and the resiliently mounted motor compressor condenser unit outside the cabinet.

Furthermore; flexible connections are required between the stationary evaporator and the movable motor compressor condenser unit.

Due to the separate mountings required for th movable and non-movable portions of the apparatus, it has been impracticable to so construct the whole apparatus that it could be easily removed from the cabinet as a unit for repairs and inspection. Thus, it has been necessary to discharge the apparatus, remove the elements separately, make the required repairs, reassemble the unit and then recharge the same.

According to the present invention, the motor,

compressor, condenser and evaporator are all j rigidly mounted together as a single unit, and the whole resiliently supported upon the cabinet, and preferably upon a removable wall portion adjacent the evaporator. Hence, when the appara- .simpler and more .compact unit, but of equal or greater importanceis the fact that the vibration of the evaporator maintains water, liquids or other food stuffs in containers supported by the I evaporator in constant agitation until the same.

becomes frozen or substantially so. In the case of water, the agitation thereof during freezing causes bubbles of air and occluded gases, tending to cling to the ice already formed, from being "frozen into the ice. The presence of such bubbles renders the ice cloudy in appearance and suggests that the same is impure and unsanitary.

It is also well known that food stuffs made in rebeing frozen. Methods heretofore employed for foodstuifs require complex and costly accessories, and retard freezing. As will be readily appreciated from the drawings and the detailed description accompanying this specification, I have 'not only simplified the refrigeration apparatus, but by a novel arrangement of old parts of the simplest character, I am enabled to achieve results never before known in domestic refrigerators, and without interfering in any way with the freezing operation. In fact, my arrangement actually hastens freezing, since the material to be frozen is constantly circulated during freezing and the heat is thereby more readily absorbed by the evaporator.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to assemble the usual component parts of a compression type refrigeration apparatus in a new and novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to mount the apparatus upon the cabinet structure in a new way, and more particularly, to so construct this mounting that'the entire apparatus may be re,- moved from the cabinet as a unit expediously and with a minimum of effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the principal parts of the apparatus, rather than a portion of the same, are resiliently mounted on the cabinet.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide means for utilizing waste energy due to the vibration of the motor compressor to produce clear ice and to improve other materials which may be congealed in the evaporator.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a simple form of evaporator may be utilized to agitate the contents of the trays therein without the aid of moving parts aside from the motor-compressor unit itself.

A further object of the invention is tq provide means for rigidly securing the evaporator to the motor-compressor whether this latter assembly is mounted above, below or to one side of the food. compartment.

Still other objects will become apparent from "the drawings and detailed description thereof accompanying this specification, wherein;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a refrigerator cabinet constructed according to this invention;

Figure 2 is aview taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 1

Figure 3 is a broken side sectional view partly evaporator 30.

unit is disposed in a housing 35 above the top wall it and is mounted on a platform 25.

The refrigerator unit includes as principal elemerits, a motor 20 operatively connected to drive a compressor 2|, a condenser 22, and an evaporator 33. The motor, compressor and condenser are secured to the upper side of the platform 25, while the evaporator is rigidly secured to the other side of the platform by means of rods 3!. These rods extend through openings 32 in the top wall I8 of the cabinet, and a flexible sealing member 33 is arranged around each rod 3i and connected in sealing relation with respect to the openings 32 to prevent the admission of the warm air into the food compartment I l, yet permitting free movement of the rods 3! when the platform 25 vibrates.

Attached to the upper side of the cover I6 are brackets 25 which serve to support the entire refrigerator unit by means of coil springs 26. Preferably, adjustable eye bolts 21 are interposed between .the brackets and the 'coil springs to permit leveling of the apparatus.

The only part of the apparatus which is not rigidly supported by the platform 25 is the float valve assembly 39 for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator 30. This assembly may be secured in place on the cover l5, and is connected to the condenser by a flexible conduit 38, and to the evaporator by a flexible conduit 40.

Any suitable control system may be employed for maintaining predetermined temperature conditions within the food compartment. The only part of the control system shown in the drawings is the manually-adjustable portion 42 located on top of the evaporator. Since thespeciflc control forms no part of this invention, it vwill be .unnecessary to encumber the specification witha description thereof other than to say an off and on type is preferred. v

i In operation, assuming that there is demand for refrigeration, the usual thermostatic switch will close and start the motor 20 and compressor 2|. Gaseous refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 2] and passes through a conduit 31 into the condenser 22' where it is cooled and condensed into a liquid and then flows through the flexible conduit 38 into the float valve assembly 35. As is well known, the liquid refrigerant accumulates in the float valve 39 and actuates the float, not shown, to control the flow of the liquid refrigerant through the flexible conduit 40 into the'lower part of the The liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 30 evaporates and in so doing absorb's heat from the food compartment II and from the contents of the trays within the evaporator. As fast as evaporation takes place, the

' thermostatic switch again functions to de-energize the motor after the temperature in the food compartment has been lowered sumciently. From the foregoing description of my novel arrangement and mounting of a refrigeration over,-the vibration can be made to take place in a single plane or in a. variety of planes by choosing properly the location and character of the mountings. Whenever refrigeration is taking place, the contents of the trays in the evaporator will be agitated. Not only will this action promote rapid freezing and constant intermixing of the contents of the trays, but, in the case of water, will produce ice cubes of remarkable clearness.

Another feature of the invention is that the contents of the trays are only agitated when refrigeration is taking place and as is desired. No additional controls of any kind are provided to accomplish this purpose because the normal control shuts off the apparatus when no more refrigeration is required and the agitation of the evaporator and trays ceases simultaneously therewith. It will also be clear that the trays.

and evaporator may be of any conventional or desired type, and. need have no moving or special parts other than tray releases and similar ac-' cessories commonly used in existing refrigerators.

The numerous novel and highly advantageous results hereinabove described in connection with refrigerators of the type in which the apparatus is mounted on the top of the cabinet may also be obtained when the motor-compressor unit is mounted below the food compartment. One way in which such an apparatus can be constructed is indicated in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4. The insulated cabinet may be of usual form comprising opposing side walls 50,

' a rear wall 5|, a removable top wall 52 and a front wall 53 provided with a door 54.

All except the evaporator of the refrigerator unit is arranged below the food compartment 55, and comprises a compressor 56, a motor 51, and a condenser 58 supported on a platform 59. This platform is resiliently supported by four springs 60 suspended from brackets 62 which are rigidly mounted to the bottom 63 at the four comers of the refrigerator cabinet. I

Rigidly connected to the sides of platform 59 is a pair of angle iron members 55 which extend .upwardly in a converging direction in the air flue 65 at the rear of the cabinet and extend forwardly above the top of the cabinet in spaced relation to the removable top wall 52. The

brackets 55 are joined together in the air flue 65 at a point spaced from the top thereof to provide a channel shaped recess 61 as shown in Fig. 4.

Disposed in the food compartment 55 is an evaporator 10 rigidly supported with respect to the top portion 68 of the brackets 65 by means of hollow rigid tubes H which extend from the upper wall of the evaporator I0 through openings 12 in the upper wall 52 and are rigidly detachably connected by suitable means to the brackets '68. A flexible sealing member 13 is disposed about each of the rigid tubes II and in sealing relation with respect to the openings 12 to prevent the entrance of warm air into the r' result of the operation of the same, and'means' food compartment 55. The refrigerator system includes a conduit 15 which extends along the angular cross-section of the brackets 65 upwardly through the air flue 66 and through one of the hollow evaporator supports ll into the evaporator III. A' restrictor 16 is disposed in a liquid conduit 11 leading from the discharge side of the condenser to the evaporator in accordance with common practice. Couplings 66 are provided in the conduits l5 and 11, in orderto permit removal of the evaporator from iihe brackets 68 independently of the remainder of the apparatus, although it will be understood that, by detaching the back panel 90, the entire apparatus may be removed as a unit by tilting and lifting the apparatus in the proper manner. The entire unit including brackets 65 and the evaporator I6 is resiliently suspended from supports 62 by means of the coiled springs 66. Consequently, when the apparatus is in operation, the entire apparatus vibrates so as to agitate the evaporator and the contents of the trays therein in the same manner aspreviously described in connection with the first embodiment.

In operation, gaseous refrigerant is compressed by the motor driven compressor 56 and is discharged into the condenser 58 where it is liquefied. The liquefied refrigerant flows from the condenser 56 through the conduit ll, restrictor l6 and then into the evaporator 16. The liquid refrigerant is vaporized in the evaporator by the absorption of heat, and the vaporized refrigerant is returned to the compressor through the suction line 15. Operation of the.

refrigeration unit causes the, entire assembly to vibrate. Vibration of the evaporator I agitates the contents in the refrigeratortrays and causes the occluded gases to escape prior. to freezing to provide clear ice cubes. When the refrigerator unit ceases to operate the evaporator "III will no longer be vibrated.

Attention is called to the fact that all parts of the second embodiment are rigidly connected together, and consequently no flexible conduits are required. Various changes in the arrangement of the parts may be made in both embodiments without departing from the scope of my invention. For example, condenser 58, Figure 3', may be supported bythe brackets 65 in the air flue 66. In this event, air outlet openings are necessary at the top of the flueto provide for "a proper circulation of cooling air. In fact, such openings may be advantageously employed when the condenser is located as shown in Figure 3, as the vertical flue acts to promote air circulation.

Another variation of my invention may consist in inserting the evaporator of Figures 3 and 4 through an opening in the rear wall 5! of the cabinet instead of through the top wall. The evaporator would, of course, be supported from the brackets 65, and the connections between the evaporator and the brackets would pass through large holes in a removable closure for the openings in the rear wall of the cabinet in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 3. Many other variations may obviously be made within the scope of this disclosure and of the annexed claims.

I claim? v 1. A mechanical refrigerator, comprising an evaporator adapted to accommodate a refrigerator tray, a refrigerator unit resiliently mounted in said refrigerator, said un'it vibrating as a connecting said refrigerator unit to said evaporator to transmit said vibrations of said unit bles of air separating from liquid contents therein to rise to the surface of the contents and escape.

2. A domestic mechanical refrigerator, comprising an evaporator adapted to accommodate a refrigerator tray, arefrigeratorunit, a resiliently mounted platform supporting said unit, sand platform being vibrated as a result of the vibration set up by the operation of said unit, and means connecting said platform and evaporator to transmit said platform vibrations to said evaporator to vibrate the latter and thus agitate the contents of said tray and cause occluded gases present to rise to the surface of the contents of the tray and escape.

3. A mechanical refrigerator, comprising an evaporator, a refrigerator unit, resilient spring supported means supporting said unit, said means being vibrated as a result of the vibration set up by the operation of said unit, and rigid means connecting said supporting means and evaporator to transmit said vibrations of said unit to said evaporator to vibrate the latter.

4. A domestic mechanical refrigerator, comprising an evaporator adapted to accommodate a net, a refrigerator unit at the bottom of said cabinet, means for resiliently supporting said unit, said means being vibrated as a result of the vibrations set up by the operation of said unit, and rigid means extending from said supporting meansupwardly of said cabinet and con-' nected to said evaporator to transmit said vibrations to said evaporator to vibrate the latter.

6. A domestic mechanical refrigerator, comprising an evaporator adapted to accommodate a refrigerator tray, a refrigerator unit, a resiliently mounted platform supporting'said unit, said platform being vibrated as a result of the vibration set up by the operation of said unit, rigid meanssupported by said platform and connected to said evaporator to support the same, said means transmitting said platform vibrations tosaid evaporator to vibrate the latter and thus the contents of said tray, and substantially rigid conduits extending from said unit to said evaporator.

7. A mechanical refrigerator, comprising an evaporator adapted to accommodate a tray for freezing water, a refrigerator unit, means for reto escape from the freezing water to produce 'clear ice.

8. That method of making clear ice in a household refrigerator, which comprises utilizing waste energy caused by unbalanced forces in the apparatus when operating to so agitate a body of water as .heat is absorbed therefrom that occluded gases in the water clinging to the surface of ice already formed are freed and rise to the surface of the water and pass into the surrounding air so that clear ice is formed.

9. A household type refrigerator including an insulated food compartment, an evaporator located within said compartment adapted to support trays for freezing water and other liquids, and means" including a source of energy outside said food compartment for\so agitating said evaporator that the freezing process as well as, the liberation of occluded gases in the contents of the trays is facilitated.

-10. A household type refrigerator including an insulated food compartment, an evaporator located within said compartment adapted to support a liquid container for congealing the contents thereof, means resiliently supporting said 14. Mechanical refrigerating apparatus including a cooling unit adapted to receive a tray of material to be frozen, a vibratory fluid circulator evaporator, and means for so agitating said' evaporator that the contents of said container are agitated and occluded gases presentin said contents are set free.

11. A domestic refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a refrigerated compartment, bracket means at least partially located within a passageway atone side of the cabinet, an evaporator extending into said refrigerated compartment and supported on said bracket means, a motorcompressor and a condenser also supported on said bracket means outside said refrigerated compartment, and means resiliently supporting said bracket and the apparatus attached there.- to so thatthe entire assembly is agitated when the motor-compressor is operating.

12. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an insulated cabinet, an evaporator in said cabinet adapted to support and refrigerate an ice tray, a condensing unit resiliently supported extriorly of said cabinet, means passing through the wall of said cabinet for rigidly suspending said evaporator from said condensing unit whereby vibration of said condensing unit is imparted to said evaporator to hasten the freezing of material in the ice tray and to expel occluded-gases therefrom, and means for sealing said cabinet about said rigid supporting means without substantially impeding vibratory movement thereof.

13. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an insulated cabinet, an evaporator in said cabinet adapted to support and refrigerate an ice tray, a condensing unit resiliently supported exteriorly of said cabinet and on the top thereof, means passing through the wall of said cabinet for rigidly suspending said evaporator from said condensing imit whereby vibration of said condensing unit is imparted to said evaporator-to hasten the freezing of material in the ice tray and to expel occluded gases therefrom, and means for sealing said cabinet about said rigid supporting means without substantially impeding vibratory movement thereof. 1

to allow the same to move sumciently to agitate the contents of said receptacle and set free occlu-ded gases therefrom, and means operatively connected with said cooling unit for vibrating the same.

-\16. A mechanical refrigerator, comprising an evaporator adapted to accommodate a refrigerator tray, a motor-compressor unit connected to the evaporator, and means including means extending from said motor compressor unit and operated by the unbalanced forces therein for so.

vibrating said evaporator and tray as to agitate the contents in' said tray and cause occluded gases present in said contents to escape.

17. Compression refrigeration apparatus, comprising a motor, a compressor driven thereby, a condenser and an evaporator assembled as a unit in such fashion that the entire assembly including the evaporator is agitated when the apparatus is operating to cause occluded gases in the contents of ice trays in the evaporator to escape, and means resiliently supporting said assembly, said evaporator being located within a chamber to be refrigerated and the condenser, motor and compressor being located outside said chamber.

18. Domestic refrigeration apparatus comprising a cabinet having an opening for the insertion and removal of an evaporator, a unitary refrigeration assembly comprising a motor, a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected together as a unitarystructure and so arranged that the evaporator can pass through said opening into the cabinet and the remainder of the apparatus will fit closely adjacent an outer wall of the cabinet, said evaporator being adapted to support ice trays, and means resiliently supporting said assembly in operative position in such fashion that the operation of the apparatus causes the entire assembly to vibrate and make substantially clear ice in said trays.

19. A refrigerator comprising a sharp freezing compartment, 9. heat insulated chamber surrounding said compartment, a refrigeration apparatus operable to refrigerate said compartment and its contents, 9. part of said apparatus being resiliently mounted, and means actuated by unbalanced forces in said resiliently-mounted part for agitating the contents of said sharp freezing compartment as said contents congeal.

GEO; A. 'BRACE. 

